Sources of the law

SOURCES OF THE LAW. By this expression is understood the authority from
which the laws derive their force.
2. The power of making all laws is in the people or -- their
representatives, and none can have any force whatever, which is derived from
any other source. But it is not required that the legislator shall expressly
pass upon all laws, and give the sanction of his seal, before they can have
life or existence. The laws are therefore such as have received ala express
sanction, and such as derive their force and effect from implication. The
first, or express, are the constitution of the United States, and the
treaties and acts of the legislature which have been made by virtue of the
authority vested by the constitution. To these must be added the
constitution of the state and the laws made by the state legislature, or by
other subordinate legislative bodies, by virtue of the authority conveyed by
such constitution. The latter, or tacit, received their effect by the
general use of them by the people, when they assume the name of customs by
the adoption of rules by the courts from systems of foreign laws.
3. The express laws, are first, the constitution of the United States;
secondly, the treaties made with foreign powers; thirdly, the acts of
congress; fourthly, the constitutions of the respective states; fifthly, the
laws made by the several state legislatures; sixthly, laws made by inferior
legislative bodies, such as the councils of municipal corporations, and
general rules made by the courts.
4.-1. The constitution is an act of the people themselves, made by
their representatives elected for that purpose. It is the supreme law of the
land, and is binding on all future legislative bodies, until it shall be
altered by tho authority of the people, in the manner, provided for in the
instrument itself, and if an act be passed contrary to the provisions of the
constitution, it is, ipso facto, void. 2 Pet. 522; 12 Wheat. 270; 2 Dall.
309; 3 Dall. 386; 4 Dall. 18; 6 Cranch, 128.
5.-2. Treaties made under the authority of the constitution are
declared to be the supreme law of the land, and therefore obligatory on
courts. 1 Cranch, 103. See Treaty.
6.-3. The acts and resolutions of congress enacted constitutionally,
are of course binding as laws and require no other explanation.
7.-4. The constitutions of the respective states, if not opposed to the
provisions of the constitution of the United States, are of binding force in
the states respectively, and no act of the state legislature has any force
which is made in contravention of the state constitution.
8.-5. The laws of the several states, constitutionally made by the
state legislatures, have full and complete authority in the respective
states.
9.-6. Laws are frequently made by inferior legislative bodies which are
authorized by the legislature; such are the municipal councils of cities or
boroughs. Their laws are generally known by the name of ordinances, and,
when lawfully ordained, they are binding on the people. The courts, perhaps
by a necessary usurpation, have been in the practice of making general rules
and orders, which sometime affect suitors and parties as much as the most
regular laws enacted by congress. These apply to all future cases. There are
also rules made in particular cases as they arise, but these are rather
decrees or judgments than laws.
10. The tacit laws, which derive their authority from the consent of
the people, without any legislative enactment, may be subdivided into 1st.
The common law, which is derived from two sources, the common law of
England, and the practice and decisions of our own courts. It is very
difficult, in many cases, to ascertain what is this common law, and it is
always embarrassing to the courts. Kirl. Rep. Pref. In some states, it has
been enacted that the common law of England shall be the law, except where
the same is inconsistent with our constitutions and laws. See Law.
2d. Customs which have been generally adopted by the people, have the
force of law.
3d. The principles of the Roman law, being generally founded in
superior wisdom, have insinuated themselves into every part of the law. Many
of the refined rules which now adorn the common law appear there without any
acknowledgment of their paternity, and it is at this source that some judges
dipt to get the wisdom which adorns their judgments. The proceedings of the
courts of equity and many of the admirable distinctions which manifest their
wisdom are derived from this source. To this fountain of wisdom the courts
of admiralty owe most of the law which governs in admiralty cases.
4th. The canon law, which was adopted by the ecclesiastical courts,
figures in our laws respecting marriage, divorces, wills and testaments,
executors and administrators and many other subjects.
5th. The jurisprudence, or decisions of the various courts, have
contributed their full share of what makes the law. These decisions are made
by following precedents, by borrowing from the sources already mentioned,
and, sometimes by the less excusable disposition of the judges to legislate
on the bench.
11. The monuments where the common law is to be found, are the records,
reports of cases adjudicated by the courts, and the treatises of learned
men. The books of reports are the best proof of what is the common law, but
owing to the difficulty of finding out any systematic arrangement, recourse
is had to treatises upon the various branches of the law. The records, owing
to their being kept in one particular place, and therefore not generally
accessible, are seldom used.

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